The Employer Nomination Scheme ("ENS") visa (subclass 186) is mainly
used by employers to nominate their TSS workers for permanent residency
after 3 years of employment. In certain circumstances employers can
nominate employees directly without waiting for the 3-year period. This
option has a higher skill level requirements for the employee.
Application streams
There are three application streams:
- Temporary
Residence Transition stream: where applicants have worked with their
employer on a TSS visa for the last 3 years in the same position.
- Direct
Entry stream: where applicants do not qualify for the Temporary
Residence Transition stream. This option has a higher skill level
requirements for the employee.
- Labour Agreement stream: where
the employer has entered into a labour agreement with the Department
that provides for a permanent residence pathway.
Book a consultation with us to get an Assessment of your visa situation
What can you do?
This visa allows you to:
- work and live in Australia permanently
- enrol in Medicare, Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses
- travel in and out of Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted
- apply for Australian citizenship (if you are eligible)
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
Visa Applicant Requirements
If you wish to apply for a TSS visa you must:
- be nominated by an approved Australian employer within the six months before you apply
- are under the age of 45 at the time of application
- have the required skills, qualifications and work experience for the position
- have the necessary level of English, unless exempt
- meet health and character requirements
- meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply (Temporary Transition, Direct Entry or Labour Agreement).
Nominating Employer Requirements
To nominate a skilled worker for this visa, you must show that:
- there is no adverse information known about your business or any person associated with your business, or it is reasonable to disregard this information
- the worker holds (or is eligible for) any mandatory registration, licence or professional membership
- you comply with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws
- you meet the additional requirements of the stream you have nominated your worker for:
Most Common Issues
The most common issues for employers and visa applicants are
- Proving that the employer has complied with the training requirement
- Obtaining a positive skills assessment (if required)
- Showing
exceptional circumstances in case the visa applicant is unable to meet
the prescribed age, English, skill level or other requirements.